Okay so when I read the book I thought they were just friends but then I read again and was like, they love each other! 1. They literally cuddled with each other 2. Johnny ran away with Pony no questions 3. Pony asked Johnny to run away with him 4. Johnny got groceries for Pony and gone with the wind 5. Johnny is literally a gay person
Also according to my friend S.E. Hinton confirmed Johnny had feelings for Pony